Air is drawn into the unit by a fan. The air is then cooled down and the excess moisture condenses onto a chilled surface after which it is safely collected in the removable water container.

The air is then reheated with the energy removed during the cooling phase and returned to the room significantly warmer and drier than before.

What Causes The Problem?

All air contains moisture and this is only natural, however, there can be too much. Especially in winter when moisture has been added through our day-to-day activities, such as boiling a kettle, drying clothes, showering and even breathing.

A typical family adds as much as 20 pints (11 Liters) of excess moisture to the air every day.

In the days when houses were poorly insulated, the excess moisture easily escaped from the home. Today, the double-glazing and draught proofing that keep our homes much better insulated also traps in the excess moisture we generate.
Labor saving appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers also contribute to excess moisture in the home, which in turn leads to condensation and humidity problems.

Do I Need A Dehumidifier?

Here is a brief overview: If your home feels very dry, you have no condensation in winter and you have good ventilation including an open coal fire, then the answer is probably no. If like the majority of us your home feels humid, you have condensation on the windows in winter and central heating instead of an open fire, then the answer is probably yes.

If you live in a modern, well insulated double - glazed bungalow or house, and you are getting black mold spots on the wallpaper - usually in a north or east facing corner, a slight mildew or mushroom smell when you come home after being out for a while, white mold spots on leather items such as shoes or coats left in a wardrobe - and condensation is appearing on the inside of your double-glazed windows - if you
recognize any of these symptoms or show any type of mold growing in any part of your home, you need a dehumidifier and you need one NOW before things deteriorate even further!

Also if you or someone in the household is an allergy suffer, a
dehumidifier is a good option. It will help you reduce the medium in which many allergens grow and thus help the person who is suffering. After all, the best way to fight an allergen is to remove it all together.

Is Too Much Humidity A Health Concern?

Yes, condensation and humidity can pose a threat to your health. Excess moisture can aggravate conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. Recent research indicates that high humidity causes more house dust-mite activity, which increases the risk of asthma.

Should I run my dehumidifier all year long?

It depends on the level of humidity control you need. If you live in a northern climate and have forced-air heat, you probably don't need to run it year around.
If you live in a southern climate with the air conditioner running continuously, you probably don't need a
dehumidifier at all.
If you have a damp cellar or basement-or an area of the house where you want little or no humidity--you may have to run the unit year around.

Are dehumidifiers expensive to run?

They can be. It depends on how often you need to run it. They can use electricity similar to the amount consumed by a small air conditioner.

Why does a dehumidifier ice up?

Because the room is too cool. Because dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air by chilling a set of coils and allowing the moisture in the air to condense on them. If the room temperature is too cold, the moisture can freeze. To prevent ice-up, you may need to either raise the
unit to a higher (warmer) location or increase the temperature of the room.

How often should I empty the water reservoir?

When it's full. You don't need to empty the reservoir before it's full as long as there's a safety shut-off for when the unit is full. Many units have indicator lights and/or audible alarms when the bull is full or nearing the full mark.

Can I drain my unit directly to a floor drain?

Usually. Most units have water containers that have a sealed outlet on them to which you can attach a garden hose. Sometimes you need to remove the plastic in the center of the outlet before you hook up the hose. If you need to stop up the hole later, you can purchase a threaded hose cap at any hardware store.

How do I know what setting to use?

We suggest that you buy a separate, good-quality hygrometer to determine the actual moisture content of the air in the room you want to control. Then, with a bit of experimentation, you can set the humidistat on the
unit so that it cycles off when it reaches the humidity level you want to maintain.

Is it normal for my unit to run continuously?

Usually no. If your unit is running constantly and the water container is not filling up at least once a day, there may be something wrong with the
unit. But if the unit runs constantly and the water container has to be emptied daily, there's just a lot of humidity in the room and
it is doing what it's supposed to do.

If you have any
further questions or need additional information feel free to contact us.
We are happy to help you.